Biblical Quote by J. I. Packer
“The biblical authors wrote of God's sovereignty over His world, and of man's experiences within that world, using such modes of speech about the natural order and human experience as were current in their days, and in a language that was common to themselves and their contemporaries. This is saying no more than that they wrote to be understood. Their picture of the world and things in it is not put forward as normative for later science, andy more than their use of Hebrew and Greek is put forward as a perfect model for composition in these languages.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Knowing God, J. I. Packer, 1973
Biblical language reflects ancient context, not scientific doctrine.
In simple terms: Ancient texts use familiar language, not modern science.
Key Takeaway
Read Scripture with historical awareness.
Themes
interpretation
history
theology
Mood
reflective
educational
Type
theological
scholarly
When to use this quote
- Bible study
- academic courses
- faith discussions
Key Concepts
cultural context
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How does context shape meaning?
- What limits does cultural distance impose?
A Different Perspective
Modern readers may misapply literal readings.
![“The fall [of your soul] from perfection into duality...was naturally followed by the discovery of the duality of good and evil...This is the Biblical version of a myth known to many lands.” quote by Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ff/joseph-campbell-300_biblical_the-fall-of-your-soul-from-perfection-in_22526.jpg)
![“[John Calvin's] treatment of the person and work of Christ, of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, of prayer and liturgy, of the sacraments, and of the way in which we have an in-built sense of the divine that we suppress to our great sorrow - these are all immense contributions to…” quote by Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4ef/oliver-d-crisp-12863_believer_john-calvin-s-treatment-of-the-person-an_62415.jpg)
